Parliamentary Library to Get Books Authored by Obama

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will hold Monday a ceremony to donate U.S. President Barack Obama’s books to the National Assembly Library in Seoul’s Yeouido district.

The embassy will give 350 copies of the Korean version of President Obama’s book “The Audacity of Hope.” In return, the library will hand over two sets of five fact book series, including “2009 Power Elite of the United States of America” and “Overview of President Obama,” both published by the library.

The library has been publishing fact books since last year to provide lawmakers with customized information necessary for legislative activities. “Overview of President Obama” contains information on his personal connections, election pledges by policy, and key comments and speeches related to Korea.

“The U.S. Embassy’s donation of President Obama’s books was triggered by a Dong-A Ilbo news report that his book ‘The Audacity of Hope’ was the most borrowed book by the lawmakers of the 18th National Assembly,” said the library’s director Yoo Jong-pil yesterday.

“The U.S. Embassy told us that the donation will be the first for an American mission in any country to donate books authored by the U.S. president since his inauguration to lawmakers of the country where the embassy is based.”

jin0619@donga.com